Posted by Mountaineer Journal on Sunday, March 6, 2016
BUCKHANNON — At the Thursday evening city council meeting, Mayor Rick Edwards was accused by a lady who deals with rental properties in the city, of allowing his dog to roam free from his residence on Third Avenue, and defecating on her clients property.
The landlord quoted Article VI of the Animal Control Ordinance, which deals with the proper disposal of animal excrement by owner or keeper of animals.
“Section 1: No person owning or having custody of any dog, cat or any other animal shall permit any such animal to defecate (fecal excrement) upon any school, including college campus, or church ground; river or creek bank, etc… or any private property within that area… unless they pick it up.”
“Section 2: The owner or person having custody of any dog, cat or other animal shall nevertheless be required periodically to properly and completely collect and dispose of any and all animal fecal excrement.”
“Does everybody up on that council, that has an animal do that?” asked the landlord.
“Yes,” the council responded in unison.
“I beg to differ,” the landlord continued, “I take care of some property on 3rd Avenue. Sorry, Mayor.”
“I have had two complains in the last month about someone’s dog taking and doing just that in their front yard, and them talking to the woman on 3rd Ave.
The woman has just blankly walked away. A dog does not have on a leash, it does run up and down the road. So, who do I notify about that?”
Citizens sitting in the audience began discussing the claims, acknowledging that the accusation was against Mayor Edwards.
“A person not picking up after their dog on another person’s property is totally insensitive and inconsiderate,” Councilman Dave Thomas stated. He was shortly interrupted by Mayor Edwards, who transitioned the discussion to another subject.
UPDATE: We have been informed that the woman at the meeting was not the landlord, but dealt with the rental properties on Third Avenue.